Value Added Benefits
Real estate agents have reported an increase in sales where homes have hardwood floors installed, over carpet only homes. People associate hardwood floors with higher quality homes and even in reselling the home, will find it will sell faster and for a higher price than a home without hardwoods installed.

Wood floors in today's lifestyle are much more affordable than ever. The wear and durability of hardwood will still have your floors looking spectacular, long after other flooring options have worn out. Hardwoods need to be refinished about every 10-15 years, making it much more affordable to redo.

Hardwood floors can be made to look very unique just by choosing a different type of wood, and the stains and finishes. By choosing different types and qualities of wood and stain, you can change an entire room's look in just a short time.

Prefinished & Engineered

Engineered flooring consists of a base using layers of wood pressed together with the grains running in opposite direction (ie; plywood). The surface layer is the actual species of wood (for example: Red Oak, Walnut, Hickory, etc.) glued to the engineered base.This is available in different thicknesses (5/16”, 3/8”, ½”, 9/16”, 5/8”, ¾”) and unlimited amounts of species.  By using an engineered base, you are gaining a more stable product than using solid wood. This is perfect for below grade (basements, or other concrete surfaces), as well as, all above grade floors (ground or main floor, second floor, etc.), effectively decreasing your chances of movement in your floor.

Prefinished flooring is available in both solid ¾” and engineered flooring.  Warranties range from 15-25 years covering structural and cosmetic problems.Most brands carry an aluminum oxide coating, giving the floor a harder, more scratch resistant surface.There are many finish options to choose from such as matte, low gloss, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss. Also available are different styles to choose from as well, such as: antiqued, hand distressed, hand scraped, old world style and many more.There are numerous color choices and even custom blending your own personal color is available.  Floor widths are generally 3” and 5,” with 2-1/4”, 4” and larger sizes available to choose from. Defining wood types

Clear: A flooring product of mostly heartwood with a minimum of number of character marks and discoloration, providing a uniform appearance while allowing for all heartwood natural color variations.   Will admit the following: 3/8” bright sapwood entire length of strip or equivalent if not extending further than 1” for ¼ length of piece; small burls and fine pin worm holes; and equivalent characters such as small tight checks; in the absence of these, one thin brown streak 3” long to be allowed every 6'.

Select: A flooring product with coloration variations produced by differences of natural heartwood and sapwood, along with characters described. The face may contain: unlimited sound sapwood; slight imperfections in milling; a small tight knot every 3'; pin worm holes; burls and a reasonable amount of slightly open checks. Brown streaks should not extend the entire length of a piece. Two flag worm holes to every 8' are permitted. Slight imperfections in face work (torn grain) admitted. An intermittent, brown machine burn across the face not exceeding ¼” width admitted. Also, a slight quantity of bark on the back or sides admitted. Will admit pieces with ½ tongue. Spot filling is generally required for open characters.

No. 1 Common: A flooring product which contains prominent variations in coloration and varying characters. The following are not admitted: broken knots over ½” in diameter, large grub worm holes; and splits extending through the piece. Open characters such as checks and knot holes are admitted, but must be sound and readily filled. Not more than 20” scant stock in thickness allowed to every 5'. Minor imperfections in machining permitted. Shall admit sticker stain; varying wood characteristics, such as flag worm holes, heavy streaks, checks, and worm holes; and an occasional dark machine burn across the face not exceeding ½” wide, 1/64” deep and not more than two each 4'. ¼ tongue allowed. Extremely dark pieces are not to be admitted.

No. 2 Common: May contain sound natural variations of the forest product and manufacturing imperfections. The purpose of this grade is to furnish a floor suitable for homes, general utility use, or where character marks and contrasting appearance is desired. The following are not admitted: shattered or rotten ends, large broken knots, excessive bad millwork, shake, advanced rot, and similar unsound defects. Dark machine burns exceeding 3/64” deep not admitted. Knot holes and open characters which will readily fill are admitted. A limited number of pieces with no tongue which may be face nailed are admitted. Suppliers We have come together with mills throughout the country to provide you with the best selection of wood available. We strive for our mills to be FSC certified to meet with expanding consumer demand for sustainable forest products. Below is a sampling of the companies we work closely with: Zickgraf Taylor Lumber, Inc. Robinson Lumber Company Mullican Flooring InterContinental Hardwoods Craftco Hardwoods of Morristown Howell Hardwood Flooring Oakcrest Shamrock Southern Kentucky Turman Weaber Ten Oaks Appalachian Lumber Co., Inc Vintage Maine Traditions Anderson Cikel   We have partnered with numerous companies to provide you with the best selection of finishing products and supplies. We work with: Lancaster Minwax Stanley Bostitch Virginia Abrasives Precision Parks/Zinnser 3M Master Thane Bona Kemi Absolute Coatings Powernail Masterline Duraseal Poloplaz Nottingham Forest Products PADCO Ackerson Stevens Penn Wood Products Osh Kosh Blackstone Wood Products Norton Sampson Coatings

Maintenance Tips

Keeping your new wood floor in top shape is now easier than ever. Regular maintenance generally needs no more than regular sweeping with a soft broom or vaccuming with a soft floor attachment. You should also clean your floor periodically with a professional wood floor cleaning product.

Some tips to help keep your floor looking their best:

1. Use only wood cleaning products on your floors, vinyl or other wax floor care products can make your floor look dull and become slippery.
2. Use throw rugs with non-skid mats under rugs. Rugs on both the inside and outside of doorways will greatly decrease the amount of dirt and debris being tracked in. Placing mats under your rugs will help to decrease the scratches that are caused by the backing of rugs.
3. Place furniture protectors under the feet of your furniture legs to help prevent scratches and scuff marks when moving furniture around. Try to always pick up heavy pieces of furniture when moving to completely protect your floors.
4. Do not wet mop your wood floor. Standing water will cause discoloration in your finish and can damage the wood underneath the finish. Try to only use a wood cleaner and follow directions for the amount used. Too much of a cleaning product can create the same results and damage your floor.
5. Try to wipe up spills of any liquid as soon as possible to diminish the damage to your floor.
6. Avoid walking on your wood floors with cleats, sports shoes and high heels. A 125-pound woman walking in high heels has an impact of 2,000 pounds per square inch. An exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. This kind of impact will dent any floor surface, whether prefinished or site finished. No wood product is completely indestructible, no matter the wood brand that is used.
7. Using a humidifier during the winter months will help to keep wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.
8. Animals, either dog or cat, need to have their nails kept at a short length to help prevent damage from scratching.  Keep in mind, the heavier the animal is (like a human), the more damage that can occur. This will help to minimize the scratching that will happen as your animal(s) move throughout the house. Having a throw rug, or area for your pet(s) will also help to keep scratches to a minimum.

Above all else, enjoy your beautiful floor. A wood floor is truly a thing of beauty and will give you many years of enjoyment without a lot of hard work involved.